Mosquera signs for Vacansoleil

Spanish sports daily MARCA reports that Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo-Galicia), currently second overall in the Tour of Spain, will be riding for Dutch squad Vancansoleil.

Mosquera had been llinked with Movistar, the new sponsor of the Caisse d’Epargne squad, but has finally opted for the Dutch squad, with a two-year deal.

After four years with Xacobeo-Galicia, the Spanish veteran had been waiting for a last-minute offer from his current squad for 2011. But with the team’s future still not 100 per cent settled, that deal has not happened either.

Vancansoleil were keen to sign Mosquera after they were not invited to the Vuelta a Espana this year. The race interests the Dutch sponsor, a camping holiday company, as Spain is a popular tourist destination in Holland.

Mosquera’s move to Holland will see him racing alongside controversial figure Riccardo Ricco, back this year with Flaminia following his suspension for EPO use and who will join Vancansoleil. Another member of the 2011 line-up will be Belgian Stijn Devolder, the double winner of the Tour of Flanders.

Currently second overall in the Vuelta, Mosquera could yet win the race outright if he manages to drop Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Doimo), who has a slender 39 second advantage, on the race’s last summit finish at the Bola del Mundo on Saturday.

Meanwhile on Thursday’s stage to Salamanca, Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) has a good opportunity to take a third win in the race. Another victory would also make it a virtual certainty Cavendish will win the points competition of the Tour of Spain outright when it finishes on Sunday in Madrid.

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